Cigarette conveying and aligning apparatus



Sept. 26, 1967 ROWLANDS CIGARETTE CONVEYING AND ALIGNING APPARATUS Filed 061' 8, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 26, 1967 T. ROWLANDS CIGARETTE CONVEYING AND ALIGNING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1965 United States Patent 3,343,646 CIGARETTE CONVEYING AND ALIGNING APPARATUS Tom Rowlands, Deptford, London, England, assignor to The Molius Organisation Limited, London, England, a corporation of Great Britain Filed Oct. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 493,974 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Oct. 19, 1964, 42,498/ 64 8 Claims. (Cl. 198-25) This invention concerns improvements in or relating to cigarette-making machinery, and in particular to apparatus for making mouthpiece cigarettes.

In a known way of making mouthpiece cigarettes, groups are formed, each consisting of at least one stub and at least one cigarette arranged end to end, and the component parts of the groups are joined by encircling adhesive bands. Usually a group consists of two cigarettes with a stub between them, and the uniting band is wrapped around the whole of the stub and around the adjacent end portions of the two cigarettes. Alternatively two relatively narrow bands may be wrapped around the two regions where opposite ends of the stub abut the two cigarettes. In either case the resulting assemblage is cut midway through the stub to produce two mouthpiece cigarettes. A further alternative is to join an individual stub to one cigarette, preferably by a relatively narrow uniting band.

In any of the above arrangements it is necessary, before applying a band, to cause close endwise abutment of stubs and cigarettes, and also to position them properly lengthwise in relation to the means for applying the bands.

According to the present invention, the groups are carried sideways in succession on a conveyor and are positioned and abutted by pneumatically actuated presser members pressing against their ends.

Further according to the invention, there is provided a rotary conveyor drum to carry groups of axially aligned cigarettes and stubs, presser members carried with said drum at opposite ends of the groups, and pneumatically actuated means within the drum to cause the presser members to move towards each other at desired times to engage and press against opposite ends of the groups, and away from each other to disengage the groups.

The presser members may be carried by pistons slidable in chambers within the drum, said chambers communicating with means to increase or decrease the air pressure within the chambers to cause movement of the pistons in one direction or the other.

There may be provided a pair of opposed presser members for each group carried by the drum, each presser member being carried by a movable piston. The presser members at one end of the drum may be arranged to move a predetermined distance only, eg against stops, to enable the groups to be correctly positioned lengthwlse.

The drum may be provided with peripheral rib-like projections against which the groups are aligned, and these projections may have concave leading surfaces to accommodate the cylindrical surfaces of the groups. The apparatus may include a conveyor arranged beneath the drum to convey successive groups endwise, i.e. in a direction substantially parallel with the drum axis, into the range of action of successive projections on the drum, whereby they are deflected sideways from the conveyor by said projections. To avoid interference with component parts of the groups, each presser member which is to engage the rearmost component of a group (considered in the direction of endwise movement of the groups on the said conveyor) may be mounted movably on the drum 3,343,646 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 "ice (e.g. pivotally) so as to be positionable out of line with a group which is about to be engaged by a rib-like projection, and positionable in line with the group after the latter has been deflected.

Further according to the invention there is provided deflector mechanism for laterally deflecting cigarettes (e.g. groups of cigarettes and stubs) which are carried endwise by a conveyor, comprising a rotary drum positioned above the conveyor, deflector elements extending across the periphery of the drum at spaced intervals around the drum, and pneumatiaclly operated presser members carried by the drum at at least one end thereof, each associated with a deflector element and each arranged to be moved by pneumatic means against the end of a cigarette to push it into correct position lengthwise of the drum.

Apparatus in accordance with the invention, and forming part of an apparatus for making mouthpiece cigarettes, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevation,

FIGURE 2 is a section on the line IIII, FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line III-III, FIG- URE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a section on the line IV-IV, FIG- URE 1.

Referring first to FIGURES 1 and 2, an air-pervious conveyor 1 runs in the direction of the arrow in FIG- URE 2 along a bed 2 beneath which is a suction chamber 3 by which air is drawn through the conveyor and through openings in the bed 2.

The suction conveyor 1 extends from the cut-01f mechanism of a continuous rod cigarette-making machine (not shown) and receives cigarettes, suitably spaced apart endwise, and stubs which are inserted, by any suitable mechanism, into alternate spaces between cigarettes. Thus groups each consisting of two cigarettes with a stub between them are carried by the conveyor 1 to the apparatus shown. Such a group is shown in FIGURE 2, the leading and trailing cigarette being indicated by the references C and C respectively while the stub is marked S. As seen in FIGURE 2, these components of the group are slightly spaced endwise from each other.

Directly above the conveyor 1 is a deflector drum, generally indicated by the reference 4, arranged to rotate in the direction shown by the arrow, FIGURE 1. Eight riblike projections 5 set into the drum surface extend along the greater part of the length of the drum, and have concave leading faces 6. These projections act as deflector vanes or blades and each in succession engages a cigarettestub group on the conveyor 1 and deflects it sideways off the conveyor. As the groups are moved around with the drum they are guided by an arcuate guide 7 and then by three arcuate guides 8 attached to the guide 7. Three further arcuate guides 9, 10 and 11 are pivotally connected to the guides 8 so as to be adjustable, by a nut 12, in relation to a suction drum 13, FIGURES 1 and 4, to which the groups are transferred. The drum 13 is arranged to carry suctionally on its periphery surface spaced adhesive bands of a suitable size to be wrapped around the central portions of the groups so as to unite the cigarettes to the stubs. The middle guide 10 terminates short of the drum 13 so as to avoid fouling these uniting bands, but the outer guides 9 and 11 extend into shallow grooves 14 (FIG- URES 1 and 4) in the suction drum surface, in order to control the groups as they are transferred from the projections 5 to the suction drum 13.

A stationary concave plate 15 is located beneath the suction drum 13 and serves as a counter-surface over which groups are rolled by the suction drum so as to Wrap the uniting bands around them.

The deflector drum 4 carries eight presser members 16 at one end of the drum, and eight further presser members 17 at the other end. These are arranged in opposed pairs, each pair being associated with a projection 5.

The members 16 are mounted on arms 18 which are fixed to the ends of pairs of pistons 19 slidable to and fro in pairs of chambers 20, so that the presser members can be moved to and fro lengthwise of the axis of the deflector drum 4.

The presser members 17 are similarly mounted on arms 21 carried by pairs of pistons 22 slidable endwise in pairs of chambers 23, but the arms 21 are pivoted and have extensions 24 which constitute cam followers and ride on a fixed cam 25. Each extension 24 is slotted as shown in FIGURE 1 to accommodate a pin 26 connected to the arm 21 by a spring 27 which urges the arm anti-clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1 so that the extension 24 is urged against the cam.

The presser members 16 and 17 of each pair are normally in line with a group of two cigarettes and a stub carried by a projection 5, so that they can move towards each other and push the cigarettes and stubs into end abutment and correct position. Since, however, the groups are travelling endwise on the conveyor 1 before being deflected by a projection 5, and are travelling from left to right in FIGURE 2, the presser members 17 are swung backwards, as shown at the bottom of FIGURE 1, to avoid any risk of fouling the trailing end of the trailing cigarette C of a group as the group moves into the range of action of the projection 5. When the group has been deflected, the presser member is swung forwardly into line with the group, as also shown in FIGURE 1.

The presser members 16 and 17 are arranged to be moved inwardly (i.e. towards each other) and outwardly by exhausting air from the chambers 20 and 23 to cause inward movement of the associated pistons, and forcing air into the chambers to move the pistons outwardly. The way in which this is done is explained below. Inward movement of the members 17 is limited by the arms 21 engaging a stop, constituted by an extension 4a of the drum 4, see FIGURE 2.

At the left-hand end of the drum 4, FIGURE 2, mounted on a fixed part 28 of the machine to which is also fixed the cam 25, is a part 29 through which extend two air pipes 30 and 31. The pipe 30 is connected to a suction fan while the pipe 31 is connected to a pressure fan. The inner ends of the pipes pass through a disc 32 which is pressed by a spring 33 against a carbon disc 34 fixed to the drum 4. The pipe 30 communicates with an arcuate groove 35, formed in the end face of the disc 32, by means of a radial groove 36, while the pipe 31 communicates with a similar arcuate groove 37, by way of a radial groove 38. The carbon disc 34 has holes 39 which are continuations of holes 40, and which communicate with conduits 41, each of which communicates with one of a pair of chambers 23, the two chambers of each pair being connected with each other by a conduit 42.

The chambers 23 communicate with the chambers 20, at the other end of the drum, by conduits 43. Thus each set of chambers 20, 23 associated with a pair of presser members 16, 17 is simultaneously put into or out of communication with the pipe 30, to exhaust air from the chambers, or with the pipe 31, to force air into the chambers, as the drum rotates.

The pistons 19 and 22 are hollow and open ended as shown, in order to increase the effective volume of the chambers in which they move.

The drum 4 is mounted on a shaft 44 which is rotated at a suitable speed in relation to that of the suction conveyor 1 to cause each deflector in succession to engage a group carried by the conveyor.

As a deflector 5 approaches the conveyor 1, the arm 21 of the presser member 17 associated with that deflector is swung back as explained above to avoid fouling the trailing end of a cigarette C Previously to that, the chambers 20 and 23 associated with that presser member 17 and the opposite presser member 16 have been put in communication with the pipe 31, with the result that air has been forced into those chambers and the pistons 19 and 22 have moved away from each other, bringing the presser members to the position shown at the'bottom of FIGURE 2. The holes 39 and 40 associated with those chambers then pass out of register with the arcuate groove 37, so that there is no air movement into or out of the chambers and the two presser members remain in their outward position. The deflector 5 engages a group and deflects it sideways, pushing it over the concave 7. Thereafter the arm 21 of the presser member 17 is swung forwardly to its normal position, in line with the group. Then the holes 39 and 40 associated with this particular set of chambers come into register with the arcuate groove 35 and the chambers are put into communication with the pipe 30, air is drawn from the chambers and the pistons move inwardly, i.e. towards each other, carrying with them the presser members 16 and 17. As these are both in line with the cigarettes and stub, they move into engagement with the outer end faces of the cigarettes C and C respectively, and push them towards each other and into endwise abutment with the stub S. The inward movement of the presser member 17 is limited by the stop 4a, so that the group is not only abutted but correctly positioned lengthwise.

Continued rotation of the drum takes the holes 39 and 40 out of register with the arcuate groove 35 and shortly thereafter, brings them into register with the arcuate groove 37. As a result, air is forced into the chambers 20 and 23 and the pistons are forced outwardly, carrying the presser members 16 and 17 clear of the group. The group then reaches the suction drum 13 and is transferred to it. The stub S is pressed against the adhesive surface of a uniting band carried on the drum 13, while the two cigarettes are attracted to and held on the drum by suction, the guides 11 controlling the cigarettes until contact with the suction drum is established.

The group is then carried by the drum 13 to the plate 15 and is rolled between the drum and the plate so that the uniting band is wrapped around it. The uniting band, as is customary, extends a little beyond the stub S to overlap the adjacent ends of the two cigarettes. The'assemblage so formed is then subdivided by cutting through the stub in any suitable way.

The presser members 16 and 17 remain in their outward positions until the deflector 5 associated with them engages another group. Before that occurs, the member 17 is swung backwardly as already described.

The sequence described above naturally occurs with each deflector 5 and its associated presser members 16 and 17 What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Article-feeding apparatus for rod-like articles including means to feed articles in the direction of their longitudinal axes, a conveyor which sweeps across the axial path of the articles to engage articles and move them transversely of said axes, pairs of opposed presser members arranged to move with said conveyor and to engage ends of articles carried by said conveyor, each pair including a first member to engage a leading end of an article and a second member to engage a trailing end of an article, considered in the direction of axial movement of the articles, means to move at least one member of each pair towards the other, and means mounting said second members for movement out of line with the said first members so that they clear axially moving articles, and for subsequent movement in line with said first memb es for endwise engagement of transversely moving artic es.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means mounting said second presser members comprises individual mounting means for each of said second presser members, whereby each second presser member may be independently moved out of and into line with said first presser member of its pair.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said individual mounting means for each second presser member comprises pivotal means, whereby each said second pressure member may be independently pivoted out of and into line with said first member of its pair.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means to move at least one presser member of each pair towards the other comprises pneumatically controlled piston and cylinder means.

5. Feeding apparatus in machinery for manufacturing mouthpiece cigarettes, comprising a conveyor having abutments to convey groups of cigarettes and stubs in a direction transverse to their longitudinal axes, means to feed components of said groups lengthwise into the range of action of said abutments for deflection thereby, presser members movable with said conveyor at opposite sides thereof and arranged in pairs, the members of each pair being arranged to engage and press against end faces of the endmost components of a group to cause abutment of the components, and means mounting the presser members at one side of the conveyor for movement out of line with the members opposed thereto so that they clear axially moving components, and for subsequent movement in line with the said opposed members for endwise engagement of said groups.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said means mounting said presser members at one side of the conveyor comprises individual mounting means for each of said presser members, whereby each said presser member may be independently moved'out of and into line with the presser member opposed thereto.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said individual mounting means for each of said presser members at one side of the conveyor comprises pivotal means, whereby each said presser member may be independently pivoted out of and into line with the presser member opposed thereto.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said abutments on said conveyor for conveying a group of cigarettes and stubs in a direction transverse to their longitudinal axes comprises peripheral rib-like projections having concave leading surfaces to accommodate the cylindrical surfaces of said groups.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,349,638 5/ 1944 Schreiber 198-210 2,609,943 9/1952 Winder 19821O 2,740,409 4/ 1956 Korbel'. 3,094,128 6/1963 Dearsley 198-25 X 3,126,085 3/1964 Collin et al 198179 X FOREIGN PATENTS 871,516 6/1961 Great Britain.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

R. J. HICKEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. ARTICLE-FEEDING APPARATUS FOR ROD-LIKE ARTICLES INCLUDING MEANS TO FEED ARTICLES IN THE DIRECTION OF THEIR LONGITUDINAL AXES, A CONVEYOR WHICH SWEEPS ACROSS THE AXIAL PATH OF THE ARTICLES TO ENGAGE ARTICLES AND MOVE THEM TRANSVERSELY OF SAID AXES, PAIRS OF OPPOSED PRESSER MEMBERS ARRANGED TO MOVE WITH SAID CONVEYOR AND TO ENGAGE ENDS OF ARTICLES CARRIED BY SAID CONVEYOR, EACH PAIR INCLUDING A FIRST MEMBER TO ENGAGE A LEADING END OF AN ARTICLE AND A SECOND MEMBER TO ENGAGE A TRAILING END OF AN ARTICLE, CONSIDERED IN THE DIRECTION OF AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE ARTICLES, MEANS TO MOVE AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF EACH PAIR TOWARDS THE OTHER, AND MEANS MOUNTING SAID SECOND MEMBERS FOR MOVEMENT OUT OF LINE WITH THE SAID FIRST MEMBERS SO THAT THEY CLEAR AXIALLY MOVING ARTICLES, AND FOR SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENT IN LINE WITH SAID FIRST MEMBERS FOR ENDWISE ENGAGEMENT OF TRANSVERSELY MOVING ARTICLES. 